Combined incubator and brooder.



H. A. TEEGARDEN.

COMBINED INOUBATOR AND BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1912.

1,086,098. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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Z m gm g @1010 @{m a a H. A. TEEGARDEN.

COMBINED INGUBATOB. AND BROODBR. APPLICATION FILED 13130.23, 1912,

' Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. A. TEEGARDBN. COMBINED INGUBATOR AND BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1912 Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. A. TEEGARDEN.

COMBINED INOUBATOR AND BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1912.

1,086,098. Patented Feb.3, 1914.

'1 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIZ7 E HENRY A. TEEGARDEN, OF UNION CITY, OHIO.

COMBINED INGUBATOR AND BROODER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed December 23, 1912. Serial No. 738,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. TEEGARDEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Incubators and Brooders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combined incubators and brooders of the hot air type.

The object of the invention is to provide .a device of this type which is efiicient and in which the incubating chamber may become a brooding chamber after the chicks are hatched.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of ventilating system in which direct drafts are avoided and in which the ventilation is increased and moisture decreased at an elevated temperature and vice Versa, thereby preventing partial paralysis of the chicks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of burner control by means of which the burner is effectually regulated by a thermostat in the incubating and brooding chamber.

Other incidental objects will be described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved combined incubator and brooder; Fig. 2 is a section on the line a-a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the top portion of the incubator; Fig. 4 is a section on the line bb of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end elevation partially in section; Fig. 6 is a section on the lines cc of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 Fig. 7 is a section on the lines cit-(Z of Figs. 1, 2 and 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the nursery slide or shutter which may be opened or partially withdrawn at hatching time to enable the chicks to have access to the outer air and return again under the hatcher at will, thus preventing overheating; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the incubating pans which are adapted to retain water to provide moisture and which permits the eggs to be easily turned; Fig. 10 is a section on the lines ee of Figs. 1, 5 and 6; and Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are detail views of the burner and its controlling device.

In the specification and drawings, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, the base of the device consists of a bottom 1 and ends 2 and 3 The sides of the base are formed by the vertical portions of brooding trays 5 which are removable, as and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly specified. The top of the incubator consists of a semi-circular dome 6 formed of outer and inner shells with intervening temperature-insulating material. The said top 6 is provided with an end 7 and an end formed of outer and inner walls 8 and 9. The said top is hinged to the base at 12 and is provided with a sight opening 13 through which the incubating chamber may be visually inspected. The said sight opening 13 is closed by a door 14 mounted on a shaft 15 journaled in the top. The ends of the shaft 15 are provided with hooked extensions 16 adapted to engage pins 17 on the base 1 when said door 14 is closed, thereby looking the top to the base. The interior of the base and top is the incubating and brooding chamber. The eggs to be incubated are placed in the base and rest upon the bottom of the base and trays 18. The tops of the trays 18 are inclined'to permit the eggs to be easily turned by removing them from the center and placing them at the outer edges of the trays, thus permitting the intervening eggs to roll down the trays. Said trays 18 are provided with screened openings 19 through which water is to be placed in the trays, moisture at a proper temperature being essential to the process of incubation. After a hatch is completed, the incubator may be used for a brooder hover"; the trays 1 8 may be wholly removed thus permitting the chicks to run in and out at will. For example, the pans 5, 'asshown in dotted line's,'Fig. 4, may be withdrawn to enable the chicks to obtain access to the outside atmosphere. The brooding chamber is, however, maintained closed by curtains 20 which hang from ledges 21 extending across the upper side edges of the base.

The following ventilating and air circulating system is provided. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4-, 5 and 6.) The outside air gains access into the interior of the device through open ings 22 in the brooding pans 5. Attached to the bottom 1 is a perforated cylindrical member 23 which is in alinement with a cylindrical portion 24 extending from and communicating with the interior of an air duct 25. The air duct is pivoted at- 26 for a purpose hereinafter specified. The said air duct communicates with a chamber or passageway 27 formed by the outer and inner walls 8 and 9 and side walls 28. The chamber 27 communicates with the incubating and brooding chamber at the top through an opening 30 in the inner wall 8. The air is conducted out of the incubating and brooding chamber by an air duct 31 which is mounted on the outer side of the end 9. The duct 31 communicates with the chamber 27 through openings 32 in the end 9 and is provided with a damper 33 controlled by the thermostat, as hereinafter specified. The heating element for the incubator is mounted in the chamber 27 as hereinafter described, and, as the outlets 32 are situated at the bottom of the chamber, the tendency will be for the cooler air to initially leave the chamber 27, thereby preventing a sudden fall of temperature within the incubator and maintaining a constant heat within the same.

The incubating and brooding chamber is heated by the following arrangement: Slidingly mounted in the base 1 is an oil reservoir 35 whichis telescopically connected by means of tubes 36 with a burner 37. The burner 37 is mounted in a pocket 38 in the end 3 of the base portion of the incubator. The burner 37 is mounted below a duct 39 into which the product of combustion from the burner are discharged. The duct 39 is mounted in the air chamber 27 and communicates at its top with one end of a horizontal air duct 10, the other end of which communicates with the atmosphere through a vertical duct 41. The duct 40 is of tapered form with the smaller end nearest the lamp. The cooler end of the duct 40, therefore, offers the larger radiating surface which equalizes the temperature within the incubating and brooding chamber. Mounted in the large end of the duct 40 is a series of baffle plates 42 which are instrumental in preventing a too rapid movement of the hot air through the duct, whereby a maximum amount of heat is radiated by the duct. The bafiie plates 12 are mounted on a frame 43 which extends from the vertical duct 41. The duct 11, the frame 43 and the plates 42 may, therefore, be removed in a body to facilitate cleansing of the duct 10. Mounted on the interior of the upper portion 6 and below the duct 40 are semi-circular air circulating plates 44 which are larger or broader at their ends nearest the burner. The circulation of the air is,

tube 45 of the burner 36 is a movable shield 4.6. The shield 46 is provided with a top 17 having a small opening &8. Then the shield 16 is so moved so as to bring the top 17 over the wick 49, the flame is suppressed with a small flame only issuing through the opening 48 which acts as a pilot light. The shield 46 is actuated by an arm 50 which extends from a shaft 52 journaled in the base of the burner. Mounted on the shaft 52 is an overbalanced lever 53 provided with a weight 53 which is capable of moving the shield over the flame when the lever is free, which contingency arises when the top 6 is elevated as hereinafter specified. The weighted end of the lever 53 is held elevated by the weight of a rod 66. One end of said lever is engaged by an actuator 5 1 mounted in, a guide 55, and a plate 56 which forms the upper surface of the end of the base 3. The actuator 5 L extends into the chamber 27 and is engaged by the end of a crank 57. The crank 57 extends from one end of a shaft 58 journaled in bearings 59 and mounted within the duct 25. The other end of said shaft is provided with a crank 60 which is connected with a plate 61 by a rod 62. The plate 61 is mounted in the cylindrical portion 24-, and is in contact with a thermostat 63. The thermostat is suspended from a rod 6 1 which extends out through the top 6 where it is provided with an ad justing nut 65.

hen the temperature in the incubating and brooding chamber increases, the thermostat expands and elevates the plate 61, rocks the shaft 58, depresses the crank 57 and actuator 5 1, rocks the lever 53 and shaft 52 and places the top of the shield 46 over the wick tube, thereby suppressing the flame and cutting off the supply of heat. lVhen the temperature decreases, the thermostatcontracts and permits the shield to uncover the wick. hen the thermostat contracts, the shield 46 is actuated by the weight of the rod 66 which rests upon one end of the lever The rod 66 is journaled in the lower portion of the duct 31 and in a bearing 73. The rod 66 extends through the duct 31, and the upper end of the rod is adapted to en gage the damper 33. When the thermostat 63 expands, under the influence of the increase in temperature in the incubating and brooding chamber, the rod 66 is elevated which opens the damper 33. The excessively warm air is, therefore, drawn off through the cylindrical member 24, duct 25, chambcr 27., openings 32 and duct 31, past. the damper 33 to the atmosphere. l/Vhen the thermostat contracts, the rod 66 will fall which permits the damper 33 to close by gravity. When the air is drawn out through the duct 31, fresh air enters the incubating and brooding chamber through the openings 22 in the brooding pans 5. As before stated, the weight of the rod 66 maintains the top 17 of the shield 46 away from the flame. It will, therefore, be noted, that as the rod 66 is carried by the top 6, the shield 46 will be released whenever the top 6 is elevated on the hinge 12. lVhen the shield 4-6 is released, the weight 53 of the lever 53 will move the shield 46 to a position to suppress the flame. The burner is, therefore, extinguished, with the exception of the pilot light, whenever the incubator is opened. It will be seen, that, by thus constructing a ventilating and heating system, that, whenever the temperature of the incubating and brooding chamber is normal, the circulation of the air is entirely within the chamber and cold air only enters at elevated temperature, thereby simulating the natural conditions of incubation.

The incubating and brooding chamber is provided with a thermometer 67 which may be viewed through the sight opening 13. When so viewed, the thermometer is illuminated by the burner 36, and for that purpose the duct 39 is provided with a mica window 68. The window 68 is normally closed by a blind 69 which extends from the cold air duct 25. The duct 25 and the blind 69 carried thereby may be elevated to permit the illumination to fall upon the thermom eter by a crank 70, the cold air duct being pivoted at 26 for that purpose. The crank 70 extends from a shaft 71 journaled in the lower portions of the top 6. The shaft 71 is provided with a handle 72 by means of which the duct 25 and blind 69 may be elevated. The flame of the burner may be inspected through a sight opening 73, which forms the end of a tube 74 which extends through the ducts 31 and 27 into the duct 39 at the bottom thereof. The pocket 38, which receives the burner, is closed by a door 75 hinged to the reservoir 35. As the top of the burner extends into an opening in the top 56 of the end 3 of the base, the tubes 36 of the burner are made telescopical to permit the burner and reservoir to be withdrawn from within the pocket 38. The burner is held in its elevated position by a supporting member 76 which engages a tube 77 extending from one of the telescopic tubes 36. The tube '77 extends through the door 75 and provides for the escape of vapor from the reservoir. The fumes and vapors in the pocket 38 and around the burner are conducted to the atmosphere as follows (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7 The pocket 38 communicates with horizontal ducts 7 8 formed by the plate 56 and plates 79. The ducts 78 communicate with pockets 80 through openings 81 in the plate 56 and the horizontal portion 82 of the end of the top 6. The pockets 8O communicate, through openings 83 in the end 9, with vertical ducts 84: which lie along the side of the duct 31 on the outside of the to 6.

i Vhile I have particularly described the various features of my improvements in moreor less specific terms, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to such specific details as it is obvious that they may be more or less departed from without affecting the scope of the invention when measured by a liberal interpretation of the claims.

I claim:

1. In an incubator, a heating element, an air tube connected to said heating element, tapered shields mounted adjacent to said tube with their larger ends adjacent to the heating element whereby the temperature at both ends of the incubator is equalized.

2. In an incubator, a heating element, an air tube connected to said heating element, curved tapered shields mounted adjacent to said tube with their larger ends adjacent to the heating element whereby the temperature at both ends of the incubator is equalized.

3. In an incubator, a heating element, a tapered air tube having its smaller end connected to said heating element, tapered shields mounted in said incubator with their smaller ends in juxtaposition with the larger end of the air tube whereby the temperature at both ends of the incubator is equalized.

4. In an incubator, one end thereof being provided with an air chamber having an atmospheric outlet at the bottom thereof and which communicates at the top with the interior of the incubator, an air duct in said incubator adapted to conduct air to the bottom of said air chamber, a heating element in said chamber, a damper controlling the atmospheric outlet of said chamber, and a thermostat cont-rolling said damper, whereby the circulation of the air is entirely within the incubator except when the temperature of the air is above normal.

5. In an incubator, one end of which is provided with an air chamber having an atmospheric outlet at the bottom thereof and which communicates at its top with the interior of the'incubator, an air duct in said incubator adapted to conduct air to the bottom of said chamber, a centrally disposed perforated air tube mounted in said incubator and communicating with said air duct, a heating element mounted in said chamber, a damper controlling the atmospheric outlet of said chamber, and a thermostat controlling said damper, whereby the circulation of the air is entirely within the incubator except when the temperature of the air is above normal.

(5. In an incubator, one end of which is provided with an air chamber having an atmospheric outlet at the bottom thereof and loigwhich communicates at its top With the inwithin the incubator except when the temperature of the air is above normal.

7. In an incubator, an air tube, an air duct mounted transversely to said tube at one end thereof, said air duct forming a cap and an outlet for said air tube, a frame attached to said air duct, and bafile plates mounted on said frame and adapted to retard the air in said tube, said. air duct, frame and battle plates being removable in a body to facilitate the cleaning of the tube.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signa- 3O ture, in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY A. TEEGARDEN.

IVitnesses:

G. C. SHUL'rz, IV. W. FOWLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eaten. Washington, D. G. 

